Young Life on the Pamlico is sponsoring its eighth-annual 5K run, which is set for March 12.

Money raised by the run will help send local high-school students to Young Life summer camp.

Tom Johnson, area director for Young Life, said the cost for a student to attend the summer camp is in the $650 range.

“With the money we raise from the race, we can afford to send students to camp for a lower cost,” he said. “Between $500 and $550 per student, instead of $650.”

“Last year, we raised around $7,500,” Johnson said. “So, that definitely helps in sending students to summer camp. We wouldn’t have been able to raise so much had it not been for our sponsors.”

Johnson said the run takes place on a certified course along Washington’s waterfront and through downtown.

“It’s not only a good course for seasoned runners, but for anyone, really,” he said.

The race begins at the North Carolina Estuarium and crosses the Runyon Creek bridge into Washington Park. Runners make their way back to the bridge, cross it and run on Second Street, Main Street and return to the Estuarium, where the race ends.

“This is the first time the race will go over the Washington Park bridge since construction on the bridge,” he said.

Johnson said about 80 children were among the nearly 200 competitors in last year’s race.

Debbie Ainsworth, who’s been instrumental in putting the event together, said a number of schools have implemented walking programs for their students, faculty and staff.

“It’s kind of fun to have third-graders show us up while walking,” she said. “And the money raised from the event goes toward making summer camp more affordable.”

According to Ainsworth, the Young Life summer camp is located in Windy Gap, which is in the North Carolina mountains.

The local Young Life club meets every Monday night at 7:29 p.m. in Rob and Louise Briley’s barn on Terrapin Track Road.

“We schedule it for 7:29 p.m. to make it a little bit different,” Ainsworth said.

The meetings are held in the barn because more and more children have been coming to the meetings, Ainsworth said.

Race participants may register at the Estuarium or online at www.runtheeast.com. Early registration is $20 per person. Late registration is $25 a person. For a child 12 or younger, registration is $10.

Early registration ends March 8. Late registration ends at 7 a.m. on race day. The race starts at 8 a.m.

Those who register early will receive T-shirts, but those who register late may not receive T-shirts.

To find out more about Young Life, call Johnson at 252-402-5088 or visit www.washington.nc.younglife.org.